Quick update from Cheltenham and Aintree.
Aux Ptits Soins, who has proven disappointing over fences, continued the trend over hurdles at Aintree last week, finishing a 45 length 8th of 11 to Yanworth. It’s hard to see where they go with him now but it won’t be long until he’s back down close to his Coral Cup winning form from two years ago so they may freshen him up and have a look at something in a handicap in the Autumn.
Ball D’Arc has been a real money spinner for Elliott and Gigginstown and continued the trend with a Grade 3 novice chase victory at 2-1 just before Cheltenham. He was then beaten just half a length by the older Ballycasey over 2 miles in the Normans Grove Chase. He missed Cheltenham but I can see him back there next March in either the Ryanair or Gold Cup as it’s clear he needs further to be seen at his best. In the meantime they could easily exploit his mark in one of the valuable handicaps his connections have done so well in this season first when he returns in the Autumn. If he goes to Fairyhouse or Punchestown take the hint as he’s very progressive and on a sharp upward curve.
Charbel was leading Altior when he came down two out in the Arkle and was the only horse with any chance of upsetting one of the season’s stars at the time. He disappointed at Aintree on Saturday but appeared ponderous at his obstacles and needs a rest now. Freshened up by a summer’s break I think he’ll be interesting possibly in a handicap or in the Tingle Creek as Kim Bailey has always said going right handed will see him in his best light and the ability he was showing at Cheltenham should put him among the best two milers next season.
Different Gravey’s form has really unravelled since he won on his chasing debut at Ascot and he was once again tailed off when pulled up behind Yanworth in the Grade 1 hurdle over 3 miles on Saturday. For me Cheltenham is not his track and they could try him in a handicap over 3 miles somewhere like Ascot or Sandown at one of the pre Christmas meetings. If he can rediscover his form he’s still interesting but you’d need a good price to back him.
Supasundae finally won the big race he’d always threatened to in the Coral Cup (started 16-1) and followed that up with a length second to Yanworth at Aintree on Saturday. The form of both races is top class and the trainer said the better ground had suited him well at Cheltenham. As a flat bred gelding he may always be best served by hurdles and could be a contender for the big prizes over 2 ½ -3 miles next season.
Wait For Me continued to run as though needing further in Cheltenham’s County Hurdle and it really does defy logic that they persist in running him over the minimum trip when everything seems so obvious. He’d been well backed ante post for a 2 ½ mile handicap hurdle which was abandoned at Ascot in February and that does seem the obvious route from now on.
Finally, if there was a prize for the worst campaigned top class horse this spring then West Approach would push Empire Of Dirt close. Pulled up in the World Hurdle and the same in Friday’s Sefton Novices Hurdle he remains without a hurdles victory and is surely the best horse around to be in that position. What they do now is anybody’s guess but the horse needs a break before possibly embarking on a novice chase campaign.
All the best @Chrisday100
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